Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Flip

Original poster

c-section, how long will I wait on the day?

22 replies

rosepetalsoup · 07/04/2015 03:16

I know there is no way of knowing but I am booked for a morning c-section and know that if emergencies come in / others take priority it will be moved later than my designated time.

What are other people's experiences of this? Did you arrive and go straight in or have to wait? I want to work out how likely it is that DH will be able to get home in time to put my older one to bed.

Thanks!

OP posts:

owainsmum · 07/04/2015 03:36

I was booked for the morning, along with one other mum. Arrived at about 8am but they had 2 emergencies then did the other mum before me, so I didn't go to theatre til about 3pm. I was starving too but not allowed to eat before my CS. Hopefully you won't have to wait though, and will be first in. Good luck

TheTruffleHunter · 07/04/2015 03:40

from very recent experience they only book 3 or 4 on the day - each takes between 30-40 mins so if not interrupted by emergencies all done by 1pm.

dylanthedragon · 07/04/2015 03:50

I've had 2 c sections. I wasnt given a designated time for either, just told to be at the hospital for 7am. One of the nurse's told me it takes around 2 hours per person in theatre (including time for them to clean it ready for the next patient). Plus you need to add on the time for the nurses/anesthetic to prep you before and time afterwards in recovery and getting transfered and settled on the ward.

With the DD1, I was taken first. Arrived at the hospital at 7am, DD born at 9.30 am. I was out of theatre and settled on the ward by noon.

With DD2, I was second in theatre and she was born around 11.30am. There was a minor complication that time so it took a bit longer to sew me up and get through recovery. I'd say it was probably nearer 4pm before I was settled.

dancestomyowntune · 07/04/2015 04:29

I was the emergency that had been in hospital being monitored for a week before they decided to deliver. I was told at about 11am to expect to go down late afternoon (after the prebooked twins) and then 30 mins later I was told they had changed their minds and I was going down first. I went down about 1:30, dd born at 2:13pm. Out of theatre by 3pm, back on the ward by about 5pm. Saw dd for the first time at around 9pm.

houseofnerds · 07/04/2015 04:36

I was first in. Done dusted stitched and latched in the blink of an eye. German efficiency.

reallybadidea · 07/04/2015 05:24

Erm, it takes a fair bit longer than 30-40 minutes! The operation takes that long, plus time at the start to go through your paperwork, put monitoring on, put spinal in, get you in position, safety check list, THEN the operation which will probably take around 40 minutes but might be longer. Then it takes time to transfer you to clean you up, transfer you to a bed, wheel you out of theatre. Then the theatre is cleaned thoroughly.

Honestly OP, I wouldn't make any firm plans, there are so many variables which can affect timing. Probably the latest they would start is about 5pm as a vague rule of thumb, but it will really depend on local policy.

TurquoiseDress · 07/04/2015 05:34

I've had one elective CS- we were told to be in hospital by 7am, arrived first etc but didn't actually get into theatre til around 4pm.

There were a handful of emergencies eg trial by forceps, which then went on to be CS anyway.
Also, a couple of the other women were on their 3rd or 4th CS so it was more complicated.

There is no "designated time" for your surgery. I'd advise making plans for somebody else to put your other child to bed just in case things are very delayed.

The thing that worried me most was being bumped off the elective list that day and being rescheduled for a later date.
Not the end of the world but hard psychologically when you're all geared up for the arrival!
Good luck!

PamBagnallsGotACollage · 07/04/2015 05:43

Waited all day on the first day and then got sent home. There were slots if emergencies that day so no time for my CS. Was a long and dull and anxious wait but completely understood.

Next day was at top if elective list. Went to labour ward about half 9 and had baby 45 mins later. Was in theatre for 55 mins in total including anaesthetic prep etc.

There really is no knowing whether your husband will be back in time for bedtime I'm afraid. All going well he will be but if complications occur on the labour ward you'll have to wait longer than planned.

Hope it all goes well

PamBagnallsGotACollage · 07/04/2015 05:44

'Slots if'?! Lots of emergencies.

noitsachicken · 07/04/2015 05:59

I was fourth, went in about midday. Very efficient.
They used a separate theatre for ELCS so no delay for emergencies.
Worth asking if your hosp does this.
It was about 4pm before we were on the ward though, I suppose my husband could Have gone to put DS to bed, but I was glad he stayed with me.

lazydog · 07/04/2015 06:22

I was told to be there for 11am. There were no delays and DS2 was definitely born at vague memory/slack mummy alert 11 something

Original poster

rosepetalsoup · 07/04/2015 06:49

Thanks everyone this is very useful. I will teach my parents how to put my toddler to bed xx Congratulations on all your births! And thank you for your good wishes.

OP posts:

StoryOfMyLife · 07/04/2015 06:55

I was told to be in the hospital at 7.45 and dd wasn't born until 6.30pm! I think it was touch and go whether I'd actually be sent home but in the end they just did it.

I was starving but worst was the thirst!

I'm expecting again and really hoping to not have as long a wait this time!

Original poster

rosepetalsoup · 07/04/2015 06:56

Oh god that is a long time. I really hope I don't get put back til the next day. I do have an urgent medical reason to have the section (only booked in last week) so hopefully that will keep me fairly high up the list.

OP posts:

mrsnec · 07/04/2015 12:49

I'm not in the UK either. I went in for a pre op assessment on a Friday morning for my op that was supposed to be first thing on the Monday. They decided to do it there and then. They sent Dh home to pick up my things and dd was born by the time he got back!

Heels99 · 07/04/2015 12:53

Mine was an emergency with premature twins and still had to wait 9 hours and got transferred to another hospital but that was due to availability of special care for babies.

mrsmeerkat · 07/04/2015 12:56

I went in the morning for 7.30 am had case toon at 2.30 back on ward before 4pm then dh went home to collect ds at six ish.

You will need to get someone to pick your child up as eu may be other theatre emergencies.

That said, other women were back on the recovery ward at 11 the day I went in. I just had a longer wait.

mrsmeerkat · 07/04/2015 12:56

Case toon

C section

Lonecatwithkitten · 07/04/2015 13:00

I bumped three ladies right down the list as I was an emergency surgical VBAC I was wheeled to theatre at 9am and didn't leave till 11.30am as I had an episiotomy and tear that required repair. I know they then didn't start any sections till after 1pm that day.

mayfridaycomequickly · 07/04/2015 13:06

I went straight from a scan at 34 weeks to being gowned up for theatre at 1.30pm. Consultant said she wanted ds out within the hour.

In reality I was on a monitor for hours waiting because labouring women who needed emcs (2 massive 11lb babies included) were in more need.

I had ds at 9.20pm.

The doctor said there's usually 2 sections a day at our hospital - the day I had ds there was 6! You can never tell.

elliejjtiny · 08/04/2015 21:27

I had a cat 3 emcs with DS4. Was supposed to go down to theatre at 1pm. DS4 was born at 9:46am the next day.

StickledPink · 08/04/2015 21:34

I've had two c sections.
First was an emergency and I was gowned up at 10.30am. Like MayDay, reality was different and there were labouring women in more need to have Emcs.
DS was born at 4.43pm.
Second time round was an Elective. Was told to get to hospital at 7.45am. We were first on the list, no emergencies needing priority and DS2 was born at 10.30am.

Good luck OP :)

Flip